Here’s your weekly radar of early-stage startups worth a closer look. No hype—just sharp picks across consumer, fintech, cleantech, and AI. If you're tracking what’s next, start here.
Bootstrapped to Millions: Culprit Underwear
Sector: Consumer Goods / Retail / Fashion
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Raising
Minimum Investment: $100
What They Do
Culprit is a direct-to-consumer underwear brand known for its bold prints, comedy-driven marketing, and premium feel.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing
Bootstrapped from $500 to $19M+ in sales, Culprit has carved a niche through viral marketing and distinct brand voice in a crowded space.
Snapshot
$19M+ lifetime revenue
Profitable for 3 years
Celebrity fans and high repeat rates
Made in the USA with eco-friendly fabric
My Take
They've proven product-market fit and brand resonance without heavy VC backing—a rare combo in DTC.
Gear Up, Women First: Wild Rye
Sector: Ecommerce / Consumer Goods
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Raising
Minimum Investment: $100
Notable Angel: Abby Bruning ($15K+ investor on Wefunder)
What They Do
Wild Rye designs technical outdoor apparel built specifically for women—balancing performance and style.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing
Outdoor gear has long underserved women. Wild Rye has loyal customers and solid early traction filling that gap.
Snapshot
2x revenue growth YoY
Strong DTC + 100+ retail doors
High repeat rate and community engagement
Certified B Corp
My Take
Strong product-market fit with a clear mission, Wild Rye is capitalizing on a cultural shift in the outdoor space.
Snack Revolution: Mark’s Snacks
Sector: Food & Beverage
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Raising
Minimum Investment: $100
What They Do
Mark’s Snacks makes clean-label, high-flavor snacks with nostalgic appeal—like better-for-you cheese balls and pork rinds.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing
Mass brands still dominate snack aisles. Mark’s is going after them with modern ingredients and branding.
Snapshot
1,500+ retail stores nationwide
$1M+ in annual revenue
Clean-label products with broad appeal
Targeting Gen X and Millennial snackers
My Take
They’re not inventing new snacks—they’re upgrading old favorites. Familiar but better is often what wins in food.
SMB Exit Platform: Mavrek
Sector: Fintech / Finance
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Raising
Minimum Investment: $250
What They Do
Mavrek is building a platform to help small business owners buy, sell, and transfer their companies more efficiently.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing
Tens of thousands of boomers are retiring without a clear succession plan. Mavrek is tackling that “Silver Tsunami” of business exits.
Snapshot
Beta product launched
Focused on sub-$5M revenue businesses
Revenue-generating via services
Serial entrepreneur founders
My Take
It’s a massive, under-digitized problem. Execution is everything—but the wedge is smart.
Smarter Trading: Option Circle
Sector: AI
Platform: StartEngine
Stage: Raising
Minimum Investment: $250
What They Do
Option Circle delivers AI-powered trading insights and tools to help retail investors navigate options markets.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing
Retail options trading has surged—yet quality tools remain scarce or expensive. Option Circle wants to change that.
Snapshot
Built-in AI strategy assistant
Subscription-based revenue
Early traction in Discord and Reddit communities
Tools for risk management and education
My Take
Could find stickiness with retail traders if the tools are legit. Their growth likely hinges on education + trust.
Energy Upgrade: ClearWatt
Sector: Cleantech / Energy
Platform: Seedrs
Stage: Raising
Minimum Investment: £25,000.00
What They Do
ClearWatt provides on-demand software tools to lower electricity bills by predicting peak usage and reducing demand charges.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing
As energy prices rise, even small savings can be meaningful. ClearWatt is selling optimization, not hardware.
Snapshot
Software-first solution—no install required
Targeting SMBs and schools
Strong early pilot feedback
Team with energy industry experience
My Take
Clean and cost-saving, with a practical SaaS angle. Execution and channel partnerships will be key.
Radar Wrap-Up
This week’s radar picked up DTC veterans, AI-driven platforms, and pragmatic cleantech. Across sectors, the signal is clear: niche focus + proven demand wins early.
📖 Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or investment solicitation.